New terms, lots of candidates, fiercely fought elections, victories and defeats both surprising and not. Lots happened in 2018 New York politics and we’ve distilled the year into our 2018 Year in Photos.

Bronx Democrats including House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, state senate candidate Alessandra Biaggi, incumbent NYS Senator Jamaal Bailey and incumbent Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez held a joint pre-election GOTV rally. The rally had the air of a business meeting, with volunteers attentively listening to pre-election direction and encouragement. The audience was especially drawn to Ocasio-Cortez, with candidate doing a lengthy meet and greet after a press Q&A.

Governor Andrew Cuomo marked his primary victory over Cynthia Nixon and the start of the general election campaign with a Midtown rally featuring a large group of Democratic elected officials and candidates. Headlined by Cuomo and running mate Kathy Hochul, attendees included New York City’s three citywide elected officials, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate and attorney general candidate Tish James and Comptroller Scott Stringer, as well as Council Speaker Corey Johnson. House members attending included Jerry Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, Hakeem Jeffries, Joe Crowley, Jose Serrano, Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat and Tom Suozzi.

Some of the successful challengers to state senate IDC members attended, including Alessandra Biaggi who defeated IDC leader Jeff Klein and Robert Jackson. Notable candidates not spotted included Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated Rep. Joe Crowley in the June primary, and incumbent NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Additionally, Cuomo’s and Hochul’s primary challengers Cynthia Nixon and Jumaane Williams did not attend.

Housing activists organized a march and rally protesting the inclusion of the costs of major capital improvements, or “MCIs,” in calculating rent increases for rent-stabilized and controlled apartments. The march started in Jackson Heights and went to offices of a landlord at 49th Street and 47th Avenue in Woodside. The march attracted competing local politicians including Jose Peralta and Jessica Ramos, competing for a state senate seat, and Ari Espinal and Catalina Cruz, competing for a state assembly seat. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic congressional candidate who defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in June, also participated.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Zephyr Teachout yesterday, giving a progressive boost to Teachout in the Democratic primary for New York State attorney general. They appeared together for a press conference at the “Charging Bull” statue in Lower Manhattan, surrounded by a large press contingent and approximately 100 supporters

Ocasio-Cortez’s surprise defeat of Rep. Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary in late June has transformed her into a political star with national reach. Teachout was one of the few political figures to support Ocasio-Cortez in her race, endorsing her before Teachout was an attorney general candidate. This return endorsement may help Teachout both by drawing financial contributions from Ocasio-Cortez’s national audience and highlighting Teachout’s progressive credentials in the expected four-candidate Democratic primary.

Joe Crowley, the member of Congress defeated by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a Democratic primary surprise, is also the chairman of the Queens County Democratic Organization. Crowley was gracious in his comments on primary night as his defeat became apparent, but it was reported that he and Ocasio-Cortez did not speak that evening. It’s unclear if he and Ocasio-Cortez have spoken since.

Approximately 1,000 people rallied in Jackson Heights Saturday in support of immigrants and asylum seekers detained by the Trump administration and in opposition to the Trump administration’s policy separating children from their parents. Organized by state senate candidate Jessica Ramos, the rally and march was one of hundreds of similar events held throughout the country, including a larger rally in Lower Manhattan with a march across the Brooklyn Bridge. The Jackson Heights rally was held in front the Post Office on 37th Avenue, with a march along 37th Avenue to the Park of the Americas in Corona.

Gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon and congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exchanged endorsements this evening, holding a joint press conference in a Jackson Heights playground and taking a short walk along Junction Boulevard. The cross-endorsements were particularly timed to Ocasio-Cortez’s race, as she faces Rep. Joe Crowley in a Congressional District 14 Democratic primary tomorrow. Nixon is currently petitioning to make a September primary against Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Democratic candidates for the 39th Assembly District, the 13th Senate District and the 14th Congressional District met for a series of debates Thursday night in Jackson Heights. Assembly Member Aridia Espinal debated challengers Catalina Cruz and Yonel Letellier Sosa, Senator Jose Peralta debated Jessica Ramos and U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley debated Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Chris Barca of the Queens Chronicle moderated each of the debates. Organized by several civic and activist groups, the debates drew an overflow crowd to the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights.